Healthcare for the Homeless Network (HCHN)

Health care services to people experiencing homelessness in King County and leadership to help change the conditions that deprive our neighbors of home and health.

The Public Health — Seattle & King County Immunization Program and Health Care for the Homeless have partnered to provide free flu and hepatitis A vaccines to individuals who are most at-risk, including people experiencing homelessness.

Downloadable flyers for people living homeless and homeless service providers in PDF format:

Rats and mice are common in King County. They can spread diseases such as rat bite fever and hantavirus. People can get sick from handling rats/mice, contact with their feces, urine or saliva, or from bites. You are more likely to come into contact with them when living in cars, RVs and outdoors. These important tips will help you stay safe and healthy.

Get care for wound infections. Group A strep is a germ that is spreading in King County. It can cause "strep throat" and skin infections, and also severe infections, including "flesh-eating" bacterial infections. People living homeless and those who inject drugs are at higher risk.

Shigella causes diarrhea, fever and stomach pain and can be spread through tiny, invisible bits of poop (stool) that people touch and then accidentally ingest. Learn how to avoid getting and spreading it.

People with the flu can spread it to others up to about 6 feet away. Flu viruses are spread mainly by tiny droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. If you are a shelter provider, learn tips on how to prevent the spread of flu by increasing the distance between people, separating clients with symptoms of flu and clean and disinfect surfaces.